Hernia support



May 28, 1963 A. DE BOGORY, SR

HERNIA SUPPORT Filed ()Gt. 4, 1961 ALEXANDER 0E BOGORY SR.

United States Patent 3,091,238 HERNIA SUPPORT Alexander De Bogory, SL,327 SW. 29th Road, Miami, Fla. Filed Oct. 4, 1961, Ser- No. 142,904 8Claims. (Cl. 128-95) This application relates to a hernia support, and,more particularly, this application relates to a hernia supportcomprised of elastic members in combination with an adhesive patch.

This is a continuation in part of a copending application for a HerniaSupport, said copending application having been filed on October 31,1958, and having been assigned Serial No. 771,155 now abandoned.

As is well known, a hernia is a protrusion through an opening in theretaining walls of the human body which are tissue bonded together bymuscle. The retaining muscles of the lower abdominal area generally areflat bands which slant slightly upwardly to the right and left of acentral muscular column with the muscles overlapping one another forminga retaining wall. For various reasons, portions of the intestinesoccasionally weave their way, or force their way, through these musclesforming a bulge-like protrusion under the skin, which is called ahernia. The retaining muscles are generally longitudinal in natureresembling a group of tight strings. This invention relates to anelastic member which transversely overlies these string type muscles andtends to tie them together closing any openings between them and at thesame time exerting a gentle but constant inwardly directed force tendingto force any protrusion back behind the muscles.

Often hernias are located in the crotch between the leg and theabdominal area or in the scrotal area. It is difficult to providestructure which will exert pressure and forces in the direction and 'ofthe type described on hernias of this class; however, the instantinvention discloses such structure.

It is accordingly an obiect of this invention to provide a herniasupport which will overlie a protrusion and urge it back into normalposition and to maintain it in the normal postion.

In accordance with this general object, the instant invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating apreferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present invention inuse;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a waist band and strip, which aredesignated by the arrow 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a leg band and strap, which aredesignated by the arrow 3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view 'of a pocket and pad, which aredesignated by the arrow 4- in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of a pad, which is designated by thearrow 5 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of an adhesive seal, which is designatedby the arrow 6 in FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifie-rent views, and referring particularly to FIGURE 1, a herniasupport is shown; the numeral 11 designates a waist encircling bandhaving a strip 12 aflixed thereto and extending downwardly therefromwith distal end 13 of the strip 12 forming a loop which is adapted toremovably engage a leg band 14. The leg band is provided with a strap 16extending upwardly therefrom which is adapted to overlie the abdominalarea crossing the center lines thereof and to 3LZ38 Patented May 28,1963 removably engage the waist band 11, forming a unitary device. Thebands 11 and 14, the strip 12 and the strap 16 are of an elasticmaterial, which when used as shown in FIGURE 1, is stretched and tendsto restore itself to a normal position.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the waist encircling band 11 is shown, said bandbeing provided with a first buckle means 17. The aforesaid strip 12 isfastened to the waist band 11 as at 18, and at 19, means are provided toremovably detach the strap 16 from the waist band 11.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the leg band 14 is shown, said band beingprovided with a second buckle means 21. The aforesaid strap 16 isfastened to the leg band as at 22, and the leg band is provided withmeans 23 to prohibit sliding of the loop along the band 14. At the endof the strap 16, which is fastened to the leg band 14, there is provideda pocket 24-, for receiving a soft pad 26, as is shown in FIGURE 4, andat the other end of the strap 15, means 27 are provided to engage themeans 19, as previously described. Intermediate the ends of the strap16, a hole 28 is located for a purpose which will be describedhereinafter.

In FIGURE 6, there is shown an adhesive seal 29, having adhesivematerial 31 on one side thereof, and a padding or felt material 32 onthe reverse side thereof. Disposed over and protecting the adhesive is acover 33 of cellophane or other suitable material, said cover having twoeyelets 34 and 36 with a string 37 laced therethrough, whereby, uponpulling the strings, the cover will be peeled from the adhesive material31. A removable shield 38 may be utilized to protect the tip of theadhesive should the cover peel back accidentally before use.

In use, which will be best understood by reference to FIGURE 1, thewaist band 11 is positioned about the user with the strip 12 extendingdownwardly. The leg band 14 is positioned as shown in FIGURE 1 and thestrip 12 fastened into engagement therewith by suitable means, such asby passing the end 13 through 23 and looping it back and fastening it atpoint 13. The pocket 24 of the band 14, having the pad 26 insertedtherein, will rest in the crotch formed where the leg and the lowerstomach meet. Underneath the pocket 24, the end of the adhesive seal 29is placed so that it adheres to the skin and is held firmly in place bythe elastic leg band 14. The seal may be placed higher as shown in thedrawing, however. The strings 37 of the seal cover 33 are threadedthrough the hole 28 of the strap 16, and the strap 16 is stretchedacross the abdominal area and locked into engagement as indicated at 19.The hernia support is thus locked into position on the wearer with thestrap 16 exerting a tension force between the bands 11 and 14 whichdraws the skin together and simultaneously exerts an inward pressure, asthe strap 16 seeks to assume a straight line position between the bands.The strings 37 may then be pulled thereby removing the cover 29 over theadhesive 31 which permits the seal 29 to lock and hold the aforesaidresult obtained by the forces exerted by the hernia support. After apassage of time, the length of which varies with the quality of theadhesive material 31, the bands, strap, and strips may be removed, andthe seal will remain in place and continue to exert the tension forcedescribed above.

FIGURE 1 shows the seal 29 in an alternative posi tion to that describedwhich also exerts the same forces on the abdominal area; however, thishernia support is particularly beneficial for a hernia in the crotch orscrotal area when used in the manner described. This is because the pad26 in the pocket 24 causes the protrusion of the hernia to be gentlydragged upwardly, as a rake or hoe would move earth, while the adhesiveunder the helping influence of the strap 16 exerts an inwardly directedforce 3 which tends to push the protrusion back into its normal positionbetween the muscles and tissue of the body.

It is readily apparent that the hernia support disclosed herein may beused for either leg with the strap 16, crossing the center lines of theabdominal area and being attached to the band 11. In addition, invictims of double hernias, the instant invention may be used with twoleg bands 14, and two straps 16, criss-crossing one another.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatis conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

What is claimed is:

1. A hernia support for a person comprising, a waist encircling band, aright leg encircling band, a left leg encircling band, means disposedbetween and joining said leg and waist bands limiting the spaced apartrelation possible therebetween, said bands being adapted to be normallyin spaced apart relation when in use, an elastic member tensionablyjoining said waist band and said left leg encircling band, and anelastic member tensionably joining said waist band and said right legencircling band, said members arranged to criss-cross one another and tooverlie the abdominal area of said person.

2. A hernia support for a person comprising, a waist encircling band, aright leg encircling band, a left leg encircling band, a first elasticstrip between said waist and right leg bands, a second elastic stripbetween said waist and left leg bands, said strips being arranged tooverlie the respective right and left hip of said person and joiningsaid waist band and said leg band forming a unitary device with saidbands adapted to be maintained in spaced apart relation in use, a firstelastic expansionable strap afiiXed to the right leg band and extendingupwardly in tension and to the left and arranged to overlie theabdominal area crossing the vertical center line thereof, and a secondelastic strap aifixed to the left leg band and extending upwardly intension and to the right being arranged to overlie the abdominal areacrossing the vertical center line thereof, said first and second strapscriss-crossing one another and being attached to said waist encirclingband.

3. In a hernia support for a person; an expansionable waist encirclingband having buckle means whereby the length thereof may be adjusted, anexpansionable leg encircling band having buckle means whereby the lengththereof may be adjusted, an expansionable strip having two ends disposedbetween said bands, one end being fastened to said waist band and theother end being fastened to said leg band, and an elastic strap disposedin tension between said waist band and said leg band, said strap havinga first end and a second end and an outer and inner surface, said firstend being fastened to said leg band and said second end being fastenedto said waist band, the inner surface of said strap being arranged 4 tooverlie the abdominal area of said person crossing the vertical centerline thereof.

4. In a hernia support for a person; an expansionable waist encirclingband, an expansionable leg encircling band, and expansionable stripdisposed between and joining said bands limiting the spaced apartrelation thereof, said bands being adapted to be normally in spacedapart relation in use, and an elastic strap disposed in tension betweensaid waist band and said leg band, said strap being adapted to befastened to said bands and arranged to overlie the abdominal area of aperson crossing the vertical center line thereof.

5. In a hernia support for a person; an expansionable Waist encirclingband having buckle means whereby the length thereof may be adjusted, anexpansionable leg encircling band having buckle means whereby the lengththereof may be adjusted, an expansionable strip having two ends disposedbetween said bands, one end being fastened to said waist band and theother end being fastened to said leg band, and an elastic strap disposedin tension between said waist band and said leg band, said strap havinga first end and a second end and an outer and inner surface, said firstend being fastened to said leg band and said second end being fastenedto said waist band, the inner surface of said strap being arranged tooverlie the abdominal area of said person crossing the vertical centerline thereof, said first end of said strap being provided adjacent theend thereof with a pocket on the inner surface of said strap, and a softpad is disposed in said pocket, said pad being arranged to overlie thecrotch between the leg and abdomen of said person.

6. A hernia support as set forth in claim 5 wherein the inner surface ofsaid strap is provided with a detachable adhesive seal whereby said sealis adapted to adhere to the abdominal area upon removal of said strap.

7. In a hernia support as set forth in claim 6, a cover for saidadhesive seal and means to remove said cover from said seal.

8. In a hernia support for a person; an expansionable waist encirclingband, an expansionable leg encircling band, an expansionable stripdisposed between and joining said bands limiting the spaced apartrelation thereof, said bands being adaptedto be, normally in spacedapart relation in use, and an elastic strap disposed in tension betweensaid waist band and said leg band, said strap being adapted to befastened to said bands and arranged to overlie the abdominal area of aperson crossing the vertical center line thereof said strap beingprovided with a detachable adhesive seal whereby said seal is adapted toadhere to the abdominal area upon removal of said strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS801,556 Stockton Oct. 10, 1905 917,376 Stuart Apr. 6, 19(19 1,425,898Redmond Aug. 15, 1922 1,776,986 Swallow Sept. 30, 1930 2,496,081 AmbroseJan. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,359 Great Britain 1819

8. IN A HERNIA SUPPORT FOR A PERSON; AN EXPANSIONABLES WAIST ENCIRCLINGBAND, AN EXPANSIONABLE LEG ENCIRCLING BAND, AN EXPANSIONABLE STRIPDISPOSED BETWEEN AND JOINING SAID BANDS LIMITING THE SPACED APARTRELATION THEREOF, SAID BANDS BEING ADAPTED TO BE NORMALLY IN SPACEDAPART RELATION IN USE, AND AN ELASTIC STRAP DISPOSED IN TENSION BETWEENSAID WAIST BAND AND SAID LEG BAND, SAID STRAP BEING ADAPTED TO BEFASTENED TO SAID BANDS AND ARRANGED TO OVERLIE THE ABDOMINAL AREA OF APERSON CROSSING THE VERTICAL CENTER LINE THEREOF SAID STRAP BEINGPROVIDED WITH A DETACHABLE ADHESIVE SEAL WHEREBY SAID SEAL IS ADAPTED TOADHERE TO THE ABDOMINAL AREA UPON REMOVAL OF SAID STRAP.